Compact Cabin Attendant Seat With Folding Shock-Absorbing Shell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft cabin crew attendant seats are heavy, lack efficient folding mechanisms, and do not incorporate effective shock load absorption systems, which hinders weight reduction, cleanliness, and user comfort.
Innovation Solution
A compact aircraft cabin crew attendant seat made primarily from carbon fiber reinforced composite materials, featuring a clamshell folding design that encloses primary components and seat cushions, and incorporates a vertical shock absorption system with hydraulic and/or friction dampers, along with a self-retracting harness for enhanced safety and ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional materials (metal, plastic) are used for the seat structure, then the seat provides sufficient strength and durability, but the weight of the seat increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials (carbon fiber reinforced polymer, Kevlar, or other high-strength-to-weight ratio materials) for the seat shell and structural components. This resolves the contradiction by providing sufficient structural strength while significantly reducing the weight compared to conventional metal or plastic materials.
2Ease of manufacture
If the seat is designed with exposed components and cushions, then the seat provides easy access and visibility, but cleanliness and compactness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the seat cushion, backrest, and shell into a unified enclosed structure. The cushion is integrated within the shell rather than being a separate exposed component, which maintains cleanliness and compactness while still providing full seating functionality when deployed.
3Reliability
If the seat is designed without shock absorption system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the safety and comfort during crashes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a shock absorption system with energy-absorbing elements (such as springs, dampers, or crushable structures) pre-installed in the seat legs or connection points. This provides crash protection in advance before any accident occurs, resolving the contradiction by ensuring safety while maintaining relatively simple integration into the seat structure.
4Ease of operation
If the seat is designed with large depth, then the seating comfort is improved, but the space requirement and folded compactness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a telescopic or articulated seat pan design that can extend to provide adequate seating depth when in use, and retract or fold to minimize depth when not in use. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by providing both comfort during operation and compactness for storage or emergency evacuation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces the weight of the seat, improves cleanliness and ergonomics by folding into a compact envelope, and provides effective shock absorption during crashes, enhancing user comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
carbon fiber reinforced composite as the main structural material to significantly reduce the weight
Implementation Method 2
incorporates a shock load absorption system into the seat structure by the utilization of hydraulic and/or friction dampers
Implementation Method 3
incorporates a shock load absorption system into the seat structure by the utilization of hydraulic and/or friction dampers
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 7~8
AI summary
A compact aircraft cabin crew attendant seat (10) includes a seat back portion (12), a shell (14) that encloses the seat back portion (12), a head rest portion (16) mounted to a top portion of the seat back portion (12), and a seat portion or squab (26). The seat portion (26) includes a hinge (28) that is slidably attached within a vertical slot (24) in the shell (14), allowing the seat portion (26) to be folded down in an open position of the crew attendant seat (10) for use. The seat portion hinge (28) moves vertically between an upper position in the compact closed position and a lower position in the open position. A major portion of the crew attendant seat (10) is formed from high strength carbon fiber reinforced composite to reduces weight. A vertical shock absorption system is configured to absorb energy during a crash landing.